Scene 2

Troy. A room in Priam’s palace.

(Priam; Hector; Troilus; Paris; Helenus; Cassandra)

The Trojan council meets to consider the situation. Priam informs them that the Greeks have repeated their offer to call the war off if Helen is returned to them. Hector and Helenus want to return her, but Troilus protests that they will lose their honor if, having approved of her abduction in the first place, they suddenly change their minds. Hector argues that the costs of the war are much more than Helen’s worth. Their sister, the mad prophetess Cassandra, bursts in to threaten the destruction of Troy unless Helen is returned, but no-one listens to her. Hector argues that Helen should be sent back to her husband Menelaus as a matter of morality, but admits that as a matter of pride she has to stay in Troy. Troilus is delighted. (219 lines)